Bible Study 2 Timothy 1: 1-18

 

A Commentary of the Book of 2 Timothy

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study 2 Timothy 1: 1-18

1917 Scofield Reference Bible Notes

2 Timothy 1:1

Book Introduction

The Second Epistle of Paul The Apostle to Timothy

WRITER The Apostle Paul (2Ti 1:1)

DATE: The touching letter was written by Paul to his "dearly beloved son" shortly before his martyrdom (2Ti 4:6-8), and contains the last words of the great apostle which inspiration has preserved.

THEME Second Timothy (in common with Second Peter, Jude, and Second and Third John) has to do with the personal walk and testimony of a true servant of Christ in a day of apostasy and declension. The key-phrases are, "All they which are in Asia be turned away from me" (2Ti 1:15); and, "A good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2Ti 2:3). The Asian churches had not disbanded, nor ceased to call themselves Christian, but they had turned away from the doctrines of grace distinctively revealed through the Apostle Paul (see Introduction, p. 1189). This was the proof that already the apostasy had set in its first form, legalism.

The natural divisions are four:

I. The Apostle's greeting, 1.1-18

II. The pathway of an approved servant in a day of apostasy 2.1-26

III. Apostasy and the Word, 3.1-17

IV. A faithful servant and his faithful Lord, 4.1-22

Text:

Guard the Treasure Entrusted to You

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus [a]by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I am grateful to God, whom I serve with a clear conscience [b]the way my forefathers did, as I unceasingly remember you in my [c]prayers night and day, 4 longing to see you, having remembered your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, 5 [d]being reminded of the unhypocritical faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that it is in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of [e]timidity, but of power and love and [f]self-discipline.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of either the witness about our Lord or me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been manifested by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him [g]until that day. 13 [h]Hold to the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the [i]treasure which has been entrusted to you.

15 You are aware of this: that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my [j]chains, 17 but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me— 18 the Lord [k]grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.

Verse by verse commentary:

Verse 1: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,”

Paul was an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are no Apostles of Christ today. Paul was the last one He selected. While there are apostles today, they are apostles of the church. Paul gives his credentials as being chosen according to “the will of God.” His message is the “promise of life” that comes when one is born again and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

Verse 2: “To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This is more than a standard introduction by Paul. His choice of words expressed his genuine desire for God’s best in Timothy’s life.

Verse 3: “I am grateful to God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I unceasingly remember you in my prayers night and day,”

Timothy was on the apostle Paul’s prayer list. When I pastored, I always had a prayer list for my congregation. Do you have a prayer list? If so, do you pray “unceasingly” for those on your list? Paul was grateful to God when he prayed. This should be our attitude as well.

Verse 4: “longing to see you, having remembered your tears, so that I may be filled with joy,”

It is quite apparent that Paul loved Timothy, and this verse tells us that Timothy also loved Paul. The fact that Paul has been arrested, is back in prison, and even faces death really affects Timothy. Paul wanted to see Timothy so that there would be mutual encouragement and joy.

Verse 5: “being reminded of the unhypocritical faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that it is in you as well.”

Can you see how blessed you are if you grew up with believing parents and grandparents? Timothy had the same faith as his grandmother and mother. Paul came out of Judaism, but this young man Timothy, apparently, was brought up in a Christian home. 

Verse 6: “For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

When Paul laid his hands on Timothy and ordained him into the ministry, that meant that Timothy was Paul’s  partner. Paul shared with him the gift of teaching the Word of God. Paul may have been concerned with Timothy’s not compromising with the world. To keep that from happening, Paul tells Timothy to “kindle afresh the gift of God.” Another translation says, “to stir up the gift within you.” The point is that it was Timothy’s job to do the stirring. May we do likewise.

Verse 7: “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-discipline.”

The word translated “timidity” is literally the word “cowardice.” God does not create cowards in the faith. This strong expression was necessary, given Timothy’s natural shyness and the importance of his situation. Positively, God has already given believers all the spiritual resources they need for every trial and temptation. This kind of love centers on pleasing God and seeking others’ welfare before one’s own. “Self-discipline” refers to a disciplined, self-controlled, and properly prioritized mind. 

Verse 8: “Therefore do not be ashamed of either the witness about our Lord or me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,”

There is a feeling today that the Christian life is a life that ought to be very easy, nice and sweet, bright and full of material prosperity.  The Lord Jesus Christ made it clear that we would have trouble. He said, “… In the world ye shall have tribulation [trouble]” (Joh. 16:33). Christians will not go through the Great Tribulation, but you and I are certainly going through our own little tribulations. We are to face these challenges not being ashamed of our faith and we can do just that with Holy Spirit power.

Verse 9: “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,”

Salvation brings the requirement to walk a holy life. We have been saved from our sins, not in our sins. His work in our hearts changes us. The things we once desired to do, we no longer desire. The reason, we are new creations. It was God’s purpose from eternity past to save His elect and cause them to walk in holiness after the image of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. It was grace that caused us to become Christians. We are saved by grace through faith. It is God’s gift, not your works being rewarded. God is a debtor to no human. 

Verse 10: “but now has been manifested by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,”

“Who abolished death” is literally, since He has made of none effect death. Death means something altogether different to the child of God. Christ made it of no effect. Now, God did not eliminate death. We all die and all will be resurrected. The belivers’ sins were judged at Calvary. The non-believer’s sins will be judged at the Great White Throne. Christ is our Mediator, the one Mediator between God and man. God is satisfied with what Christ has done for us. We can approach death much differently than a lost soul.  Man cannot be saved by perfect obedience, because he is incapable of rendering it. He cannot be saved by imperfect obedience, because God will not accept it. There is only one solution to the dilemma, and that is the One who said, “… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Salvation is 100% of the Lord. 

Verse 11: “for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.”

Paul says he’s a “preacher,” a proclaimer of the Word of God. He also says that he’s “an apostle, and a teacher.” As an apostle he had several gifts. See the note on verse 1 for an explanation of the difference between an Apostle of Christ and an apostle of the church.

Verse 12: “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”

Having exhorted Timothy not to be ashamed to speak out for Christ, Paul presents himself as a model of boldness in the face of suffering. “That day” refers to Judgment Day. Paul had confidence that Christ would “guard” that which was surrendered to Him. In is this confidence in Christ that enabled Paul to be bold even while in prison for his faith. May we have the same confidence.

Verse 13: “Hold to the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”

“Sound words” is a  theme that runs throughout the Pastoral Letters.  The Words of Scripture are sufficient for our Christian walk and faith. There are no new “sound words” today despite the heresy of the charismatic churches. They are the lost leading the lost. Christ is not speaking today to private individuals. 

Verse 14: “Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”

The “treasure” is the good news of salvation revealed in the Scripture. The Word of God is inerrant and infallible and contains all we need to follow the Lord Jesus Chrust and be saved.

Verse 15: “You are aware of this: that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.”

Paul is probably writing with intentional exaggeration to make sure his readers see the extent of the disloyalty. Asia is now western Turkey. This is the only reference in Scripture of  Phygelus and Hermogenes.

Verse 16: “The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains,”

Onesiphorus was a member of the church at Ephesus who distinguished himself through his loyalty to Paul. Paul draws a comparison between Phygelus and Hermogenes who were disloyal and Onesiphorus who was loyal to him.

Verse 17: “but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me—”

Onesiphorus may have come to Rome to aid Paul. His loyalty to Paul was helpful to him. May we be found faithful to those who have oversight of our souls.

Verse 18: ”the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.”

Onesiphorus was a busy man, but he made time to locate Paul when he was in prison. Paul may have led him to the Lord, and you can’t despise a man who has led you to Christ.